These five players need to improve upon their 2016 stats if their teams are going to be successful.

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Now that spring training is underway, teams are finally starting to get a sense of what their rosters will look like heading into the 2017 season.

As strengths and weaknesses start to appear and players suffer through the various aches and pains associated with playing baseball every day again, it’s important for teams to use this time to come up with backup plans in case of injury or ineffectiveness.

As teams in the NL Central chase the defending World Series-champion Chicago Cubs, they’ll need some players who struggled last year to step up in a big way.

The division could produce a World Series contender or two if some key players have big years.

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The AL Central saw the Cleveland Indians advance to the World Series, only to lose Game 7 to the Chicago Cubs in excruciating fashion.

However, the Indians are poised to compete for another American League pennant in 2017 and the remaining four clubs will try their best to make the AL Central the most competitive division in baseball.

Spring training will be here before we know it, but there’s still a lot of work for AL East teams to do before the 2017 season kicks off.

Plenty of free agents are still out there waiting for new squads, and in the arms race that is the AL East, teams that stand still get left behind.

Therefore, it’s time to take a quick look at one remaining free agent who each team should sign before pitchers and catchers report in a few weeks:

New York Yankees: Jason Hammel

This could be the year the Yankees can no longer trot CC Sabathia out to the mound every five days, and the team’s rotation depth isn’t that great to begin with.

Adding Hammel to the mix would be a smart, economical move for the Yankees, who need some proven talent behind some young guys who will be relied upon for innings this season.

Boston Red Sox: Travis Wood

The Red Sox have already done a lot of work on their roster this offseason, adding important pieces like Chris Sale and Mitch Moreland to the mix.

However, bullpen depth is always an area teams need to improve and Travis Wood fits Boston’s needs perfectly.

The lefty is a shutdown reliever who can also be extended into a starting role as needed. With an iffy rotation behind Rick Porcello, Sale and David Price, the Red Sox should invest in Wood as a backup plan in case one of their other starters doesn’t work out.

Baltimore Orioles: Pedro Alvarez

If the Orioles aren’t willing to pony up the dough required to re-sign slugger Mark Trumbo, perhaps they should look to another in-house candidate to replace him.

Pedro Alvarez also spent the 2016 season with Baltimore, where he slugged 22 home runs and drove in 49 runs while hitting .249.

With a need for a DH and occasional sub for Chris Davis at first base, the Orioles need a guy like Alvarez on the roster before the 2017 season begins.